US8137116B2 - Ground joint connector and wire harness including the same - Google Patents

Ground joint connector and wire harness including the same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US8137116B2
US8137116B2 US13/143,881 US201013143881A US8137116B2 US 8137116 B2 US8137116 B2 US 8137116B2 US 201013143881 A US201013143881 A US 201013143881A US 8137116 B2 US8137116 B2 US 8137116B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
terminal
wire
grounding
ground
connector housing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
US13/143,881
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
US20110269323A1 (en
Inventor
Yasuo Omori
Hiroki Hirai
Tetsuji Tanaka
Masaaki Tabata
Yuujirou Imai
Teruo Hara
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd, AutoNetworks Technologies Ltd, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd filed Critical Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
Assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD. reassignment AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HARA, TERUO, IMAI, YUUJIROU, HIRAI, HIROKI, OMORI, YASUO, TABATA, MASAAKI, TANAKA, TETSUJI
Assigned to AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD. reassignment AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD. CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST AND SECOND ASSIGNEE ADDRESS ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON 07/08/2011, REEL 026568, FRAME 0211. Assignors: HARA, TERUO, IMAI, YUUJIROU, HIRAI, HIROKI, OMORI, YASUO, TABATA, MASAAKI, TANAKA, TETSUJI
Publication of US20110269323A1 publication Critical patent/US20110269323A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US8137116B2 publication Critical patent/US8137116B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/648—Protective earth or shield arrangements on coupling devices, e.g. anti-static shielding  
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R4/00—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation
    • H01R4/58—Electrically-conductive connections between two or more conductive members in direct contact, i.e. touching one another; Means for effecting or maintaining such contact; Electrically-conductive connections having two or more spaced connecting locations for conductors and using contact members penetrating insulation characterised by the form or material of the contacting members
    • H01R4/64—Connections between or with conductive parts having primarily a non-electric function, e.g. frame, casing, rail

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a technique for collectively connecting a plurality of grounding wires included in a wire harness for a vehicle to a given ground site inside the vehicle.
  • FIG. 10 shows an outline of this device.
  • the device comprises a harness-side connector 7 to be provided at a terminal end of a wire harness including a plurality of grounding wires, and a ground joint connector 1 to be fixed to a given ground site (in FIG. 10 , a bolt 6 ) provided on a vehicle body 3 .
  • the harness-side connector 7 includes a plurality of non-illustrated female terminals to be attached to respective terminal ends of the grounding wires and a connector housing 8 for collectively holding the female terminals.
  • the harness-side connector housing 8 has a plurality of built-in terminal locking portions for holding the female terminals respectively.
  • the ground joint connector 1 includes a grounding conductor 5 and a connector housing 2 which holds the grounding conductor 5 , the grounding conductor 5 integrally having a grounding terminal portion 4 to be fixed to the ground site and a plurality of non-illustrated male terminals provided inside the connector housing 2 .
  • interconnecting the ground joint connector 1 and the harness-side connector 7 and fixing the grounding terminal portion 4 in the ground joint connector to the bolt 6 as the ground site establish a collective connection of the grounding wires to the ground site.
  • the female terminals held by the connector housing 8 of the harness-side connector 7 and the male terminals of the grounding conductor 5 held by the connector housing 2 of the ground joint connector 1 are fitted to each other respectively, thus electrically connecting the grounding wires to which the female terminals are attached to the ground site through the female terminals and the grounding conductor 5 ; simultaneously, the connector housing 8 of the harness-side connector 7 and the connector housing 2 of the ground joint connector 1 are fitted to each other, and this fitting is locked by engagement between respective engagement portions provided in the two connector housings 8 and 2 , the lock keeping the female and male terminals fitted to each other respectively.
  • this ground connecting device occupying a large space, is difficult to use in a little space in a vehicle.
  • the harness-side connector 7 and the ground joint connector 1 of the device require the connector housings 8 and 2 for holding the terminals respectively; furthermore, the connector housings 8 and 2 occupy a large space as a whole for their mutual fitting and the lock of the fitting.
  • the connectors 7 and 1 are required to protrude in a large size from an inner surface of the vehicle body 3 .
  • the ground joint connector of the present invention comprises: a plurality of wire terminals to be attached to respective terminal ends of the grounding wires; a grounding conductor which includes a plurality of wire-side terminal portions each having a shape capable of being fitted to a corresponding one of the wire terminals in a common specific terminal fitting direction, and a ground-side terminal portion having a shape capable of being connected to the ground site while being fixed onto the wall surface, the wire-side terminal portions being aligned in an alignment direction approximately perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and parallel to the wall surface while integrally joined to the ground-side terminal portion; and a connector housing which holds the grounding conductor and includes a plurality of terminal receiving chambers each having an opening oriented in one direction parallel to the terminal fitting direction and adapted to receive the wire terminals inserted into the terminal receiving chamber through the opening thereof, and a plurality of terminal locking portions adapted to lock the wire terminals inserted into the terminal receiving chambers respectively.
  • the connector housing accommodates the wire-side terminal portions in the respective terminal receiving chambers so as to allow the terminal locking portions to lock the respective wire terminals which are inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers and fitted with the wire-side terminal portions respectively, and holds the grounding conductor so as to make the ground-side terminal portion protrude to an outside of the connector housing directed oppositely to the openings of the terminal receiving chambers.
  • the present invention also provides a ground connecting device comprising: the above ground joint connector; and an external grounding terminal to be attached to a terminal end of a second grounding wire other than a plurality of first grounding wires to which the wire terminals of the ground joint connector are attached respectively.
  • the external grounding terminal of the ground connecting device includes a wire-side fixed portion to be fixed to the terminal end of the second grounding wire and a ground-side held portion to be held by a grounding terminal holding portion of the grounding conductor at a position outside the connector housing.
  • the external grounding terminal has such a shape as allows the ground-side held portion to be held by the grounding-terminal holding section under a condition that the second grounding wire is aligned with the first grounding wires in a direction parallel to the alignment direction while extending alongside the connector housing.
  • the present invention provides a wire harness comprising: a wire harness body including a plurality of first grounding wires and a second grounding wire having a diameter greater than that of each of the first grounding wires, the first grounding wires and the second grounding wire being bundled together; and the above ground connecting device.
  • the wire terminals comprised in the ground joint connector of the ground connecting device while being attached to respective terminal ends of the first grounding wires, are inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers of the connector housing of the ground joint connector to be fitted with the respective wire-side terminal portions of the grounding conductor of the ground joint connector.
  • the wire-side fixed portion of the external grounding terminal of the ground connecting device is fixed to a terminal end of the second grounding wire, and the ground-side held portion of the external grounding terminal of the ground connecting device is held by the grounding-terminal holding section of the grounding conductor, under a condition that the second grounding wire is aligned with the first grounding wires in a direction parallel to the alignment direction while extending alongside the connector housing.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a structure of a ground connecting device at a terminal end of a wire harness according to one embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the ground connecting device.
  • FIG. 3 is a partially sectional side view of the ground connecting device.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 5A is a sectional front view showing a retainer of a ground joint connector in the ground connecting device at an insertion/withdrawal permitting position.
  • FIG. 5B is a sectional front view showing a state when the retainer is in a lock position.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a grounding conductor of the ground connecting device.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the retainer.
  • FIG. 8A is a partially sectional front view showing the retainer temporarily locked at the insertion/withdrawal permitting position.
  • FIG. 8B is a partially sectional front view showing the retainer fully locked at the lock position.
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional front view showing a retainer position-inspecting jig into which the ground joint connector is inserted.
  • FIG. 10 is a front view showing a conventional ground connecting device.
  • FIGS. 1 to 9 There will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 .
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 show a ground connecting device at a terminal end of a wire harness according to this embodiment.
  • the wire harness comprises a wire harness body including a plurality of electric wires bundled together, and the ground connecting device.
  • the wire harness includes a plurality of (in the illustrated embodiment, three) first grounding wires 11 and an extra or second grounding wire 12 other than the first grounding wires 11 .
  • the grounding wires 11 and 12 are adapted to be collectively connected to a ground site of a vehicle through the ground connecting device.
  • the ground site is formed of a bolt 18 provided so as to protrude inwardly from a wall surface 17 of a vehicle body, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • the first grounding wires 11 of the grounding wires 11 and 12 are designed for grounding a specific circuit connected to the wire harness to the ground site, each of the first grounding wires 11 having one end to be connected to the ground site (bolt 18 ) and the other end to be connected to the circuit.
  • the second grounding wire 12 which is fail-safe for a ground fault due to the occurrence of damage or the like in the ground site, is designed to connect the ground site to an additional ground site.
  • the grounding wire 12 has one end to be connected to the ground site and the other end to be connected to a non-illustrated additional ground site, further having an outer diameter greater than that of each of the first grounding wires 11 so as to possess a larger current capacity.
  • the ground connecting device comprises a ground joint connector JC and an external grounding terminal 60 .
  • the ground joint connector JC is designed to collectively connect the first grounding wires 11 to the ground site, and the external ground terminal 60 is provided at a terminal end of the second grounding wire 12 to connect the second grounding wire 12 to the ground site.
  • the ground joint connector JC comprises a plurality of wire terminals 20 , a grounding conductor 30 , a connector housing 40 , and a retainer 50 .
  • the wire terminals 20 are to be provided at respective terminal ends of the first grounding wires 11 ; each of the terminals 20 , as also shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B , includes a female-type electric contact portion 22 and a wire-side fixed portion in a front position and a rear position respectively, the wire-side fixed portion comprising a conductor barrel 23 and an insulation barrel 24 .
  • the electric contact portion 22 has a hollow rectangular cylindrical-shaped body and a contact spring 26 which is provided inside the body so as to be deflectable.
  • the electric contact portion 22 has a top wall, which is formed with a lockable hole 28 to enable the electric contact portion 22 to be locked to the connector housing 40 .
  • the wire-side fixed portion is to be crimped onto the terminal end of a corresponding one of the first grounding wires 11 .
  • the terminal end of each of the first grounding wire 11 is preliminarily subjected to a partial removal of the insulation cover 16 thereof so as to expose a terminal end of the conductor 14 ; the barrels 23 and 24 are bended so as to enfold the terminal end of the conductor 14 and a portion of the insulation cover 16 adjacent thereto, respectively, thereby being electrically connected to the conductor.
  • the grounding conductor 30 which is made of an electrical conductive material, is adapted to be connected to each of the wire terminals 20 to thereby collectively connect the wire terminals 20 to the ground site (bolt 18 ), that is, collectively ground them.
  • the entire connector housing 40 is integrally molded of an insulating material such as a synthetic resin, into a shape capable of holding a given region of the grounding conductor 30 while accommodating it; specifically, a shape flattened in a thickness direction of the grounding conductor 30 .
  • the grounding conductor 30 which is formed by stamping a single metal plate into an appropriate shape and bending it in several positions, as also shown in FIG. 6 , integrally comprises a plurality of (in the illustrated embodiment, three) wire-side terminal portions 32 , a ground-side terminal portion 34 , and a stepped portion 36 interposed between the terminal portions 32 and 34 ; each of the wire-side terminal portions 32 is coupled to the common ground-side terminal portion 34 through the stepped portion 36 .
  • Each of the wire-side terminal portions 32 protrudes toward a rear side (wire side) of the ground joint connector JC to serve as a male-type fitting portion (tab) fittable into the female-type electric contact portion 22 of a corresponding one of the wire terminals 20 in a given direction, a terminal fitting direction (an axial direction of each of the first grounding wires 11 ); the wire-side terminal portions 32 are adapted to come into press contact with the contact spring 26 and the top wall of the electric contact portion 22 when fitted into the wire terminal 20 to thereby electrically conduct with the electric contact portion 22 .
  • the wire-side terminal portions 32 are aligned in a direction parallel to a width direction thereof (a direction perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and parallel to the wall surface 17 ).
  • Each of the stepped portion 36 couples a corresponding couple of the wire-side terminal portion 32 and each of the ground-side terminal portion 34 located on a front side of the wire-side terminal portions 32 , while providing a given step between the ground-side terminal portion 34 and an arrangement plane of the wire-side terminal portions 32 .
  • the ground-side terminal portion 34 is adapted to be fixed onto the wall surface 17 so as to be connected to the bolt 18 , the ground site, while serving a function of holding the external grounding terminal 60 .
  • the ground-side terminal portion 34 is of plate shape along the wall surface 17 , having a wall-side fixed surface 34 which is an underside plane surface able to be fixed onto the wall surface 17 .
  • the ground-side terminal portion 34 has a through-hole 35 formed at an appropriate position thereof (in the illustrated embodiment, at a position offset from the wire-side terminal portions 32 in the width direction parallel to an alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 ) to allow the bolt 18 to be inserted thereinto, and further has a grounding-terminal holding section 37 for holding the external grounding terminal 60 on right and left sides of the through-hole 35 (opposite sides of the through-hole 35 in the width direction).
  • the grounding-terminal holding section 37 is raised upwardly beyond the remaining section of the ground-side terminal portion 34 to form a space 38 ( FIG. 6 ), into which the external grounding terminal 60 is to be fitted, on an under side (back side) of the ground-side terminal portion 34 .
  • the connector housing 40 holds the wire-side terminal portions 32 so as to expose the ground-side terminal portion 34 of the grounding conductor 30 , while having a shape flattened in a direction perpendicular to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 .
  • the connector housing 40 includes: a back-side surface 41 to be opposed to the wall surface 17 when the ground-side terminal portion 34 is fixed to the wall surface 17 ; and a front-side surface 42 reverse to the back-side surface 41 .
  • each of the two surfaces 41 and 42 is a flat surface approximately parallel to the wall surface 17 .
  • the back-side surface 41 has a plurality of line-shaped protrusions 47 protruding therefrom in such a protrusion size that the protrusions 47 keep a gap corresponding to the step of the stepped portion 36 between the back-side surface 41 and the wall surface 17 .
  • the connector housing 40 has a front portion (ground-side portion) as a conductor holding portion 43 , and a rear portion (wire-side portion) including a plurality of (in the illustrated embodiment, three) terminal receiving chambers 44 .
  • the terminal receiving chambers 44 are aligned in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 at the same pitch as that of the wire-side terminal portions 32 , each of the terminal receiving chambers 44 having an opening on the rear side, i.e., on a side opposite to the ground-side terminal portion 34 . Through the opening, the electric contact portion 22 of a corresponding one of the wire terminals 20 is inserted into the terminal receiving chambers 44 .
  • the conductor holding portion 43 has a shape into which each of the wire-side terminal portions 32 of the grounding conductor 30 can be press-fitted from a side opposite to the terminal receiving chambers 44 (the front side), thus holding the press-fitted wire-side terminal portion 32 .
  • Each of the wire-side terminal portions 32 is held in such a position that the wire-side terminal portion 32 protrudes into a corresponding one of the terminal receiving chambers 44 and is able to be fitted with the electric contact portion 22 of the wire terminal 20 inserted into the terminal receiving chamber 44 in an insertion direction of the wire terminal 20 (terminal fitting direction).
  • the connector housing 40 is formed with a plurality of lances 48 each serving as a terminal locking portion, at respective positions corresponding to the terminal receiving chambers 44 .
  • Each of the lances 48 bulges obliquely inwardly inside the terminal receiving chamber 44 from a top surface (upper surface) of the terminal receiving chambers 44 , the lance 48 having a distal end which serves as a free end capable of being deflected in a thickness direction of the connector housing 40 (in the illustrated embodiment, vertically deflected).
  • the distal end is adapted to be deflected upwardly by contact with the inserted wire terminals 20 so as to allow the wire terminals 20 to pass through the distal end and thereafter elastically return to its regular position to fall into the lockable hole 28 of the wire terminal 20 as shown in FIG. 5B to restrain the wire terminals 20 from the rear side.
  • the distal end is adapted to block the displacement of the wire terminals 20 in a withdrawal direction thereof to thereby lock (primarily lock) the wire terminals 20 in a position where the wire terminals 20 is fitted with the wire-side terminal portion 32 .
  • the retainer 50 which is designed to additionally lock (secondarily lock) each of the wire terminals 20 having been fitted with the wire-side terminal portion 32 and locked by the lance 48 , is attached to an intermediate portion of the connector housing 40 in a front-rear direction.
  • the retainer 50 is attached to the connector housing 40 movably, in the thickness direction of the connector housing 40 (in a direction approximately perpendicular to both of the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 and the terminal fitting direction), between an insertion/withdrawal permitting position shown in FIG. 5A and a lock position such that the retainer 50 sinks into the connector housing 40 under the insertion/withdrawal permitting position, as shown in FIG.
  • the retainer 50 permits the wire terminals 20 to be inserted into and withdrawn from the respective terminal receiving chambers 44 , at the insertion/withdrawal permitting position, while locking the wire terminals 20 inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers 44 to be fitted to the respective wire-side terminal portions 32 , at the lock position.
  • the retainer 50 has a top wall 52 extending in a width direction of the connector housing 40 (a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 ) and a pair of sidewalls 54 extending downwardly from the opposite ends of the top wall 52 respectively.
  • the top wall 52 is formed with a plurality of locking protrusions 53 at respective positions corresponding to the terminal receiving chambers 44 , in a back-side surface of the top wall 52 .
  • the locking protrusions 53 are retracted upwardly (to a front side) from the respective terminal receiving chambers 44 to permit the wire terminals 20 to be inserted from and withdrawn from the terminal receiving chambers 44 , when the retainer 50 is in the insertion/withdrawal permitting position; the locking protrusions 53 protrude into the respective terminal receiving chambers 44 to restrain the respective electric contact portions 22 of the wire terminals 20 at the rear side thereof to thereby double-lock the wire terminals 20 , when the retainer 50 is pushed to the lock position while the wire terminals 20 has been inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers 44 to be locked by the respective lances 48 .
  • Each of the sidewalls 54 is formed with a pair of front and rear lockable pieces, namely, a temporarily lockable piece 55 and a fully lockable piece 56 .
  • Each of the temporarily lockable piece 55 and the fully lockable piece 56 is of a cantilever shape having an upper end connected to a central region of the sidewall 54 and a lower end serving as a free end deflectable in the front-rear direction of the connector housing 40 .
  • the lockable pieces 55 and 56 have a temporarily lockable protrusion 55 a and a fully lockable protrusion 56 a , respectively, which protrude outwardly in a front-rear direction, in the respective lower ends of the lockable protrusions 55 a and 56 a.
  • a pair of insertion grooves 49 ( FIG. 1 ) into which the respective sidewalls 54 of the retainer 50 is inserted from the upper side thereof, and there exist a pair of front and rear locking protrusions, namely, a temporarily locking protrusion 45 and a fully locking protrusion 46 , in each of the insertion grooves 49 , as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B .
  • the temporarily locking protrusion 45 is provided at such a height position that it constrains the temporarily lockable piece 55 a on the upper side thereof to lock (temporarily lock) the retainer 50 in the insertion/withdrawal permitting position, as shown in FIG. 8A .
  • the fully locking protrusion 46 is provided at such a height position that it constrains the fully lockable piece 56 a from thereabove to lock (fully lock) the retainer 50 in the lock position below the insertion/withdrawal permitting position, as shown in FIG. 8B .
  • the lock position of the retainer 50 is set to such a position that an upper surface of the top wall 52 of the retainer 50 is flush with the front-side surface 42 of the connector housing 40 , as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and FIG. 5B , or sinks inward of the connector housing 40 (in the illustrated embodiment, downwardly) beyond the front-side surface 42 .
  • the insertion/withdrawal permitting position of the retainer 50 is set to such a position that the top wall 52 protrudes outwardly (in the illustrated embodiment, upwardly) beyond the front-side surface 42 , as shown in FIG. 5A .
  • the external grounding terminal 60 has a wire-side fixed portion to be fixed to the terminal end of the second grounding wire 12 and a terminal body portion 62 to be held so as to be superimposed on the ground-side terminal portion 34 of the grounding conductor 30 at a position outside the connector housing 40 .
  • the wire-side fixed portion has a pair of conductor barrels 63 and a pair of insulation barrels 64 .
  • the conductor barrels 63 are crimped onto the conductor 14 of the second grounding wire 12 so as to enfold the conductor 14 .
  • the insulation barrels 64 are crimped onto the insulation cover 16 of the second grounding wire 12 so as to enfold the insulation cover 16 .
  • the terminal body portion 62 has a through-hole 65 at a position aligned with the through-hole 35 of the ground-side terminal portion 34 , while having a ground-side held portion 67 capable of entering the back of the grounding-terminal holding section 37 (i.e., entering the space 38 ( FIG. 6 ) on a back side of the grounding-terminal holding section 37 ).
  • the ground-side held portion 67 is formed with a lockable protrusion 67 a in an front-side surface (upper-side surface) thereof, while the grounding-terminal holding section 37 is formed with a locking hole 37 a .
  • the lockable protrusion 67 a and the locking hole 37 a make an engagement with each other, the engagement enabling the grounding-terminal holding section 37 to lock the ground-side held portion 67 to thereby inhibit the terminal body portion 62 from a relative displacement (particularly, a relative rotation) to the ground-side terminal portion 34 .
  • the external grounding terminal 60 has a shape as shown in FIG. 3 , specifically, a shape which allows the ground-side held portion 67 to be held by the grounding-terminal holding section 37 in a condition that the second grounding wire 12 to which the external grounding terminal 60 is attached is aligned with the first grounding wires 11 in a width direction of the ground joint connector parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 while extending alongside the connector housing 40 .
  • the plurality of first grounding wires 11 and the second grounding wire 12 to be grounded are extracted from the wire harness body.
  • the wire terminals 20 of the ground joint connector JC are attached to the respective terminal ends of the first grounding wires 11 , while the external grounding terminal 60 is attached to the terminal end of the second grounding wire 12 .
  • the attachment of the above terminals may be performed in advance of assembly of the wire harness.
  • the retainer 50 of the ground joint connector JC is attached to the connector housing 40 .
  • both of the sidewalls 54 of the retainer 50 are half way inserted into the respective insertion grooves 49 of the connector housing 40 , thereby being temporarily locked in the insertion/withdrawal permitting position shown in FIGS. 5A and 8A , i.e., in such a position that the temporarily lockable protrusion 55 a of the temporarily lockable piece 55 has climbed over the temporarily locking protrusion 45 of the connector housing 40 while the fully lockable protrusion 56 a of the fully lockable piece 56 has not yet climbed over the fully locking protrusion 46 .
  • Each of the wire terminals 20 is inserted into a corresponding one of the terminal receiving chambers 44 of the connector housing 40 to be fitted to a corresponding one of the wire-side terminal portions 32 while passing under a corresponding one of the locking protrusions 53 of the retainer 50 in the insertion/withdrawal permitting position, which enables the wire terminals 20 to be collectively and electrically connected to the common grounding conductor 30 .
  • the lances 48 i.e., terminal locking portions
  • the connector housing 40 are fitted into the respective lockable holes 28 provided in the electric contact portions 22 of the wire terminals 20 to lock (primarily lock) the electric contact portions 22 , thereby keeping the electric contact portions 22 and the wire-side terminal portions 32 fitted with each other respectively.
  • the retainer 50 is further pushed in, in the thickness direction of the connector housing 40 (i.e., a direction approximately perpendicular to both of the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 and the terminal fitting direction), so that the fully lockable protrusion 56 a of the fully lockable piece 56 climbs over the fully locking protrusion 46 of the connector housing 40 involving the deflection of the fully lockable piece 56 , thereby fully locking the retainer 50 at the lock position as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 5B .
  • the locking protrusions 53 of the top wall 52 of the retainer 50 at the lock position enter the respective terminal receiving chambers 44 to constrain the electric contact portions 22 of the wire terminals 20 at the rear side, thereby secondarily locking the wire terminals 20 .
  • This makes it possible to reliably keep the wire terminals 20 and the wire-side terminal portions 32 inside the connector housing 40 fitted with each other respectively, without an extra wire terminal-holding housing other than the connector housing 40 as provided in the conventional ground connecting device.
  • the terminal body portion 62 of the external grounding terminal 60 is united to the ground-side terminal portion 34 of the grounding conductor 30 to thereby making an electrical connection with the ground-side terminal portion 34 .
  • the ground-side held portion 67 of the external grounding terminal 60 is fitted into the under side of the grounding-terminal holding section 37 of the ground-side terminal portion 34 so as to fit the lockable protrusion 67 a of the ground-side held portion 67 into the locking hole 37 a of the grounding-terminal holding section 37 , thereby being held by the grounding-terminal holding section 37 .
  • the ground connecting device is thus built up at a terminal end of the wire harness.
  • ground-side terminal portion 34 and the external grounding terminal 60 thus united are collectively connected to the ground site, i.e., bolt 18 and fixed to it.
  • the fixing surface 34 a of the ground-side terminal portion 34 is faced to the wall surface 17 in an area around the bolt 18 so that the bolt 18 penetrates through the through-hole 35 and the through-hole 65 provided in the ground-side terminal portion 34 and the external grounding terminal 60 respectively, and thereafter a non-illustrated nut is screwed on to the bolt 18 and fastened.
  • the ground-side terminal portion 34 is thereby fixed between the nut and the wall surface 17 , while grounding the first grounding wires 11 through the grounding conductor 30 including the ground-side terminal portion 34 and the wire terminals 20 fitted to the wire-side terminal portions 32 of the grounding conductor 30 and also grounding the second grounding wire 12 through the external grounding terminal 60 superimposed on the ground-side terminal portion 34 .
  • the above ground connecting device is able to connect the first grounding wires 11 to the ground site through the wire terminals 20 and the grounding conductor 30 based on only the connector housing 40 holding the grounding conductor, not requiring the dedicated connector housing 8 for collectively holding the wire terminals as shown in FIG. 10 , and keep the connection based on the locks by the lances 48 of the connector housing 40 and the retainer 50 attached to the connector housing 40 .
  • the alignment of the wire-side terminal portions 32 of the grounding conductor 30 in a direction approximately parallel to the fixing surface 34 a of the ground-side terminal portion 34 i.e., a planar surface to be fixed onto the wall surface 17 of the vehicle, allows the ground joint connector JC to protrude from the wall surface 17 in only reduced size.
  • the present invention does not exclude that the wire-side terminal portions 32 are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the wall surface 17 , in addition to a direction parallel to the wall surface 17 .
  • the wire-side terminal portions 32 may form two lines in a direction perpendicular to the fixing surface 34 a , each line including three or more of the wire-side terminal portions 32 aligned in a direction approximately parallel to the fixing surface 34 a .
  • the limitation of the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 to a direction approximately parallel to the wall surface 17 allows the ground joint connector JC to protrude within further reduced size from the wall surface 17 .
  • the above ground connecting device has no necessity for avoiding interference between the second grounding wire 12 to which the external grounding terminal 60 is attached and another connector housing prepared only for holding the wire terminals 20 , and allows the second grounding wire 12 to extending alongside the connector housing 40 of the ground joint connector JC so as to be aligned with the first grounding wires 11 in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 ; which enables the entire device to have a more flattened structure so as to protrude in further reduced size from the wall surface of the vehicle.
  • the wire harness according to the present invention may be devoid of the second grounding wire 12 and the external grounding terminal 60 to be attached to the second grounding wire 12 .
  • the state of the retainer 50 can be switched between a state of locking all of the wire terminals 20 and a state of permitting the insertion/withdrawal of the wire terminals 20 , by only a small displacement of the retainer, as compared with the case where the displacement is performed in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions 32 (that is, a width direction of the connector).
  • the top wall 52 of the retainer 50 protrudes or sinks with respect to the front-side surface 42 of the connector housing 40 (i.e., a surface on an opposite side of the back-side surface 41 opposed to the wall surface 17 ), thus enabling an operator to easily re-check the accomplishment of the lock of the wire terminals 20 by the retainer 50 , according to a protrusion state of the retainer 50 with respect to the front-side surface 42 , for example, when the ground-side terminal portion 34 is fixed onto the wall surface 17 of the vehicle.
  • This jig 70 has a connector insertion hole 72 having an opening oriented in a specific direction, through which opening the joint connector JC to be inspected can be inserted into the connector insertion hole 72 so as to let the ground-side terminal portion 34 thereof be ahead.
  • the connector insertion hole 72 has a shape corresponding to that of the joint connector JC when viewed from the side of the ground-side terminal portion 34 .
  • a region for receiving the connector housing 40 inserted thereinto has a top surface 73 at a height position corresponding to the front-side surface 42 of the connector housing 40 .
  • the jig 70 allows an adequacy of double locking of wire terminals 20 by a retainer 50 to be automatically determined based on whether the joint connector JC can be inserted into the connector insertion hole 72 .
  • the retainer 50 when positioned in the lock position as shown in FIG. 9 , i.e., a position flush with or below the front-side surface 42 , permits the connector housing 40 to be entirely inserted into the connector insertion hole 72 .
  • the retainer 50 when stopped in the insertion/withdrawal permitting position where it protrudes outwardly from the front-side surface 42 , for example, as shown in FIG.
  • the retainer 50 is also not absolutely essential in the present invention, but may be appropriately omitted.
  • the present invention provides a ground joint connector capable of collectively connecting a plurality of grounding wires included in a wire harness for a vehicle to a ground site provided on a wall surface inside the vehicle, while occupying only a reduced space, and a wire harness including the ground joint connector.
  • the ground joint connector which the present invention provides comprises: a plurality of wire terminals to be attached to respective terminal ends of the grounding wires; a grounding conductor which includes a plurality of wire-side terminal portions each having a shape capable of being fitted to a corresponding one of the wire terminals in a common specific terminal fitting direction, and a ground-side terminal portion having a shape capable of being connected to the ground site while being fixed onto the wall surface, the wire-side terminal portions being aligned in an alignment direction approximately perpendicular to the terminal fitting direction and parallel to the wall surface while integrally joined to the ground-side terminal portion; and a connector housing which holds the grounding conductor and includes a plurality of terminal receiving chambers each having an opening oriented in one direction parallel to the terminal fitting direction and adapted to receive the wire terminals inserted into the terminal receiving chamber through the opening thereof, and a plurality of terminal locking portions adapted to lock the wire terminals inserted into the terminal receiving chambers respectively.
  • the connector housing accommodates the wire-side terminal portions in the respective terminal receiving chambers so as to allow the terminal locking portions to lock the respective wire terminals which are inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers and fitted with the wire-side terminal portions respectively, and holds the grounding conductor so as to make the ground-side terminal portion protrude to an outside of the connector housing directed oppositely to the openings of the terminal receiving chambers.
  • This ground joint connector while occupying only a little space, is able to connect a plurality of grounding wires included in a wire harness for a vehicle, to a ground site of the vehicle.
  • the wire terminals attached to the respective terminal ends of the grounding wires are directly inserted the respective receiving chambers of the connector housing holding the grounding conductor to be fitted with the respective wire-side terminal portions of the grounding conductor, and locked by the respective terminal locking portions provided in the connector housing to thereby be kept fitted; therefore, the connector housing holding can connect the wire terminals to the ground site through the grounding conductor and keep the fitting state of the wire terminals by the terminal locking portions locking the respective wire terminals, even by no use of a dedicated connector housing for collectively holding the wire terminals such as shown in FIG.
  • the wire-side terminal portions of the grounding conductor being aligned in a direction approximately parallel to the wall surface of the vehicle to which the ground-side terminal portion is to be fixed, allows the ground joint connector to protrude in only reduced size from the wall surface.
  • the ground joint connector of the present invention preferably, further comprises a retainer for additionally locking the wire terminals having been fitted with the respective wire-side terminal portions and locked by the respective terminal locking portions of the connector housing. More preferably, the retainer is attached to the connector housing movably, in a direction approximately perpendicular to both of an alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions and the terminal fitting direction, between an insertion/withdrawal permitting position for permitting each of the wire terminals to be inserted into and withdrawn from the respective terminal receiving chambers and a lock position for locking each of the wire terminals in such a position that the wire terminal has been inserted into the terminal receiving chamber and fitted with the wire-side terminal portion.
  • This retainer can reliably keep the wire terminals and the wire-side terminal portions fitted to each other respectively to thereby ensure high connection reliability, in spite of the direct insertion of the wire terminals into the connector housing of the ground joint connector with no use of the dedicated connector housing.
  • the displacement direction of the retainer which is a direction approximately perpendicular to both of the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions and the terminal fitting direction, allows the retainer to be switched between a state of locking all of the wire terminals and a state of permitting the insertion/withdrawal of the wire terminals by a small displacement of the retainer, as compared with the case where the displacement direction is parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions.
  • the connector housing preferably has a back-side surface to be faced to the wall surface of the vehicle to which the ground-side terminal portion is to be fixed, and a front-side surface on an opposite side of the back-side surface, wherein the lock portion is a position where the retainer is flush with the front-side surface or sink toward an inside of the connector housing under the front-side surface and the insertion/withdrawal permitting position is a position where the retainer protrudes outwardly beyond the front-side surface.
  • the ground-side terminal portion of the grounding conductor has a grounding-terminal holding section adapted to hold an external grounding terminal attached to a terminal end of an extra grounding wire other than the grounding wires to which the respective wire terminals are attached, so as to let the external grounding terminal be superimposed on and brought into contact with the ground-side terminal portion at a position outside the connector housing.
  • the present invention also provides a ground connecting device comprising: the above ground joint connector; and an external grounding terminal adapted to be attached to a terminal end of a second grounding wire other than the first grounding wires of the ground joint connector to which wires the respective wire terminals are attached.
  • the external grounding terminal includes a wire-side fixed portion to be fixed to the terminal end of the second grounding wire and a ground-side held portion held by the grounding-terminal holding section of the grounding conductor at a position outside the connector housing, the external grounding terminal having such a shape as allows the ground-side held portion to be held by the grounding-terminal holding section, under a condition that the second grounding wire is aligned with the first grounding wires in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions while extending alongside the connector housing.
  • This ground connecting device allows a space to be kept alongside the connector housing of the ground joint connector by omission of a dedicated connector housing for holding the wire terminals (wire-side connector housing) in the conventional device; the effective utilization of the space enables the second grounding wire other than the grounding wires (first grounding wires) to which the respective wire terminals are attached to be aligned with the first grounding wires in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions.
  • the present invention also provides a wire harness comprising: a wire harness body including a plurality of first grounding wires and a second grounding wire having a diameter greater than that of each of the first grounding wires, the first grounding wires and the second grounding wire being bundled together; and the above ground connecting device.
  • each of the wire terminals included in the ground joint connector of the ground connecting device is inserted into the respective terminal receiving chambers of the connector housing of the ground joint connector to be fitted with the respective wire-side terminal portions of the grounding conductor of the ground joint connector, while being attached to respective terminal ends of the first grounding wires;
  • the wire-side fixed portion of the external grounding terminal of the ground connecting device is fixed to a terminal end of the second grounding wire;
  • the ground-side held portion of the external grounding terminal of the ground connecting device is held by the grounding-terminal holding section of the grounding conductor, under a condition that the second grounding wire is aligned with the first grounding wires in a direction parallel to the alignment direction of the wire-side terminal portions while extending alongside the connector housing.
  • This wire harness can connect both of the first grounding wires and the second grounding wires included therein, to the common ground site, while having a terminal end with a simple structure and a flat shape.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
  • Insulated Conductors (AREA)
US13/143,881 2009-09-08 2010-08-24 Ground joint connector and wire harness including the same Active US8137116B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2009-207566 2009-09-08
JP2009207566A JP5428674B2 (ja) 2009-09-08 2009-09-08 アース接続装置及びこれを含むワイヤハーネス
PCT/JP2010/005193 WO2011030510A1 (ja) 2009-09-08 2010-08-24 アース用ジョイントコネクタ及びこれを含むワイヤハーネス

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20110269323A1 US20110269323A1 (en) 2011-11-03
US8137116B2 true US8137116B2 (en) 2012-03-20

Family

ID=43732191

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US13/143,881 Active US8137116B2 (en) 2009-09-08 2010-08-24 Ground joint connector and wire harness including the same

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US8137116B2 (zh)
JP (1) JP5428674B2 (zh)
CN (1) CN102282732B (zh)
DE (1) DE112010000444T8 (zh)
WO (1) WO2011030510A1 (zh)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20100261377A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2010-10-14 Lisa Draxlmaier Gmbh Tolerance-compensating current distribution board
US20120244759A1 (en) * 2011-03-24 2012-09-27 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting
US20140144669A1 (en) * 2012-11-26 2014-05-29 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Vehicle grounding device
US20140187081A1 (en) * 2012-12-27 2014-07-03 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Joint connector
US20140235078A1 (en) * 2011-09-20 2014-08-21 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Ground connection fitting and ground connection device using same
US20150194757A1 (en) * 2012-09-21 2015-07-09 Yazaki Corporation Connector
US9099803B2 (en) 2011-09-08 2015-08-04 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Joint connector and assembling method thereof
US9211852B2 (en) 2011-09-20 2015-12-15 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Conductive plate and joint connector
US20160104966A1 (en) * 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 Gbatteries Energy Inc. Connectors for Delivery of Power
US9362665B2 (en) 2011-09-29 2016-06-07 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Joint connector with pairs of locking lances and communication space extending between the pairs of locking lances
US20160344123A1 (en) * 2014-02-07 2016-11-24 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Contact Carrier With A Base Body And At Least One Contact Element, A Tool For Injection Molding A Contact Carrier And A Method For Producing A Contact Carrier
US20170098904A1 (en) * 2015-10-06 2017-04-06 Hyundai Motor Company Multi-ground connector for vehicle
US9667017B2 (en) * 2015-04-30 2017-05-30 Yazaki Corporation Connector and manufacturing method thereof
US20170170580A1 (en) * 2015-12-09 2017-06-15 Yazaki Corporation Ground terminal and wire harness
US10167891B1 (en) * 2018-03-08 2019-01-01 International Business Machines Corporation Self-reporting, grounded nut-clip
US10218200B2 (en) 2012-03-25 2019-02-26 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Systems and methods for enhancing the performance and utilization of battery systems
US20200052426A1 (en) * 2018-08-13 2020-02-13 Valeo Siemens Eautomotive France Sas Electrical equipment
US10840725B2 (en) 2016-07-10 2020-11-17 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Battery charging with charging parameters sweep
US20220181803A1 (en) * 2020-12-09 2022-06-09 Lear Corporation Grounding electrical connector

Families Citing this family (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5494236B2 (ja) * 2010-05-28 2014-05-14 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 アース接続装置およびそれを用いたワイヤハーネス
JP5692600B2 (ja) * 2011-09-29 2015-04-01 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 ジョイントコネクタ
JP5720518B2 (ja) * 2011-09-29 2015-05-20 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 ジョイントコネクタ
JP5741425B2 (ja) * 2011-12-26 2015-07-01 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 アース接続体
JP5957365B2 (ja) * 2012-10-29 2016-07-27 矢崎総業株式会社 ジョイントコネクタ
JP2014186934A (ja) * 2013-03-25 2014-10-02 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd ジョイントコネクタ
JP6182432B2 (ja) * 2013-11-11 2017-08-16 矢崎総業株式会社 電線ホルダ
JP6123690B2 (ja) * 2014-01-31 2017-05-10 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 アース端子ユニット
JP2016076378A (ja) * 2014-10-06 2016-05-12 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタ
CN104793513B (zh) * 2015-01-16 2018-03-30 长园共创电力安全技术股份有限公司 临时接地线管控系统及方法
CN108346887B (zh) * 2018-04-13 2024-02-02 菲尼克斯亚太电气（南京）有限公司 弹簧连接的接地端子
CN109462113B (zh) * 2018-12-21 2024-09-10 中国电建集团核电工程有限公司 接地装置
JP7189904B2 (ja) * 2020-03-18 2022-12-14 矢崎総業株式会社 電気接続箱の接続構造
JP7498435B2 (ja) 2021-06-03 2024-06-12 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所 ジョイント端子
CN115347413B (zh) * 2022-10-18 2023-03-24 国网浙江省电力有限公司宁波供电公司 一种接地线快速连接接头

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0594980A (ja) 1991-10-01 1993-04-16 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> 熱処理装置
US5433628A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-07-18 Yazaki Corporation Sealing mechanism for connector and method of producing the same
JPH10208815A (ja) 1997-01-23 1998-08-07 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd アースジョイントコネクタ
US6126493A (en) * 1998-08-10 2000-10-03 Lear Corporation Electrical fastener
US6607392B2 (en) * 2000-07-13 2003-08-19 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Ground joint connector
JP2004192991A (ja) 2002-12-12 2004-07-08 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd アースジョイントコネクタ
US6786751B2 (en) * 2002-07-29 2004-09-07 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Combined terminal fitting
US6875053B2 (en) * 2002-12-10 2005-04-05 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Ground connector and method of mounting it
JP2005123098A (ja) 2003-10-20 2005-05-12 Fujikura Ltd ジョイントコネクタ
US7241168B2 (en) * 2005-03-11 2007-07-10 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Joint connector and method of assembling it

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2582213Y2 (ja) * 1992-06-01 1998-09-30 矢崎総業株式会社 ジョイントコネクタ

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0594980A (ja) 1991-10-01 1993-04-16 Nippon Telegr & Teleph Corp <Ntt> 熱処理装置
US5433628A (en) * 1992-07-13 1995-07-18 Yazaki Corporation Sealing mechanism for connector and method of producing the same
JPH10208815A (ja) 1997-01-23 1998-08-07 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd アースジョイントコネクタ
US6086399A (en) * 1997-01-23 2000-07-11 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Earth joint connector
US6126493A (en) * 1998-08-10 2000-10-03 Lear Corporation Electrical fastener
US6607392B2 (en) * 2000-07-13 2003-08-19 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Ground joint connector
US6786751B2 (en) * 2002-07-29 2004-09-07 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Combined terminal fitting
US6875053B2 (en) * 2002-12-10 2005-04-05 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Ground connector and method of mounting it
JP2004192991A (ja) 2002-12-12 2004-07-08 Sumitomo Wiring Syst Ltd アースジョイントコネクタ
US20050026480A1 (en) * 2002-12-12 2005-02-03 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Ground joint connector
JP2005123098A (ja) 2003-10-20 2005-05-12 Fujikura Ltd ジョイントコネクタ
US7241168B2 (en) * 2005-03-11 2007-07-10 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Joint connector and method of assembling it

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
International Search Report issued in International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2010/005193 Dated Oct. 12, 2010.

Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8337251B2 (en) * 2006-08-31 2012-12-25 Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH Tolerance-compensating current distribution board
US20100261377A1 (en) * 2006-08-31 2010-10-14 Lisa Draxlmaier Gmbh Tolerance-compensating current distribution board
US20120244759A1 (en) * 2011-03-24 2012-09-27 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting
US8870610B2 (en) * 2011-03-24 2014-10-28 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Terminal fitting with welded portion
US9099803B2 (en) 2011-09-08 2015-08-04 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Joint connector and assembling method thereof
US9300093B2 (en) * 2011-09-20 2016-03-29 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Ground connection fitting and ground connection device using same
US20140235078A1 (en) * 2011-09-20 2014-08-21 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Ground connection fitting and ground connection device using same
US9211852B2 (en) 2011-09-20 2015-12-15 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Conductive plate and joint connector
US9362665B2 (en) 2011-09-29 2016-06-07 Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Joint connector with pairs of locking lances and communication space extending between the pairs of locking lances
US11973195B2 (en) 2012-03-25 2024-04-30 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Reconfigurable multi-core battery packs
US11050281B2 (en) 2012-03-25 2021-06-29 Gbatteries Energy, Inc. Systems and methods for enhancing the performance and utilization of battery systems
US10218200B2 (en) 2012-03-25 2019-02-26 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Systems and methods for enhancing the performance and utilization of battery systems
US20150194757A1 (en) * 2012-09-21 2015-07-09 Yazaki Corporation Connector
US9318827B2 (en) * 2012-09-21 2016-04-19 Yazaki Corporation Connector
US20140144669A1 (en) * 2012-11-26 2014-05-29 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Vehicle grounding device
US9017083B2 (en) * 2012-11-26 2015-04-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Vehicle grounding device having a grounding terminal connected to a vehicle body and an electronic component
US9083094B2 (en) * 2012-12-27 2015-07-14 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Joint connector
US20140187081A1 (en) * 2012-12-27 2014-07-03 Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. Joint connector
US20160344123A1 (en) * 2014-02-07 2016-11-24 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Contact Carrier With A Base Body And At Least One Contact Element, A Tool For Injection Molding A Contact Carrier And A Method For Producing A Contact Carrier
US9966680B2 (en) * 2014-02-07 2018-05-08 Te Connectivity Germany Gmbh Contact carrier with a base body and at least one contact element, a tool for injection molding a contact carrier and a method for producing a contact carrier
US20160104966A1 (en) * 2014-10-09 2016-04-14 Gbatteries Energy Inc. Connectors for Delivery of Power
US10020608B2 (en) * 2014-10-09 2018-07-10 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Connectors for delivery of power
US9667017B2 (en) * 2015-04-30 2017-05-30 Yazaki Corporation Connector and manufacturing method thereof
US20170098904A1 (en) * 2015-10-06 2017-04-06 Hyundai Motor Company Multi-ground connector for vehicle
US9761978B2 (en) * 2015-10-06 2017-09-12 Hyundai Motor Company Multi-ground connector for vehicle
US10483665B2 (en) * 2015-12-09 2019-11-19 Yazaki Corporation Ground terminal and wire harness
US20170170580A1 (en) * 2015-12-09 2017-06-15 Yazaki Corporation Ground terminal and wire harness
US10840725B2 (en) 2016-07-10 2020-11-17 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Battery charging with charging parameters sweep
US11362535B2 (en) 2016-07-10 2022-06-14 Gbatteries Energy Canada Inc. Battery charging with charging parameters sweep
US10167891B1 (en) * 2018-03-08 2019-01-01 International Business Machines Corporation Self-reporting, grounded nut-clip
US10923845B2 (en) * 2018-08-13 2021-02-16 Vako Siemens eAutomotive France SAS Electrical equipment for an automobile vehicle
US20200052426A1 (en) * 2018-08-13 2020-02-13 Valeo Siemens Eautomotive France Sas Electrical equipment
US20220181803A1 (en) * 2020-12-09 2022-06-09 Lear Corporation Grounding electrical connector
US11837806B2 (en) * 2020-12-09 2023-12-05 Lear Corporation Grounding electrical connector

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20110269323A1 (en) 2011-11-03
WO2011030510A1 (ja) 2011-03-17
DE112010000444T8 (de) 2012-11-22
JP2011060522A (ja) 2011-03-24
JP5428674B2 (ja) 2014-02-26
CN102282732B (zh) 2013-11-27
DE112010000444T5 (de) 2012-08-09
CN102282732A (zh) 2011-12-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8137116B2 (en) Ground joint connector and wire harness including the same
US8105103B2 (en) Ground connecting device and wire harness having the same
US9124016B2 (en) Connector with covering wall
US9300093B2 (en) Ground connection fitting and ground connection device using same
US8182286B2 (en) Water-proofing joint connector
US7192313B2 (en) Automobile connector assembly with short circuit prevention feature
US7806720B2 (en) Wire harness and wire harness assembling method
US9332668B2 (en) Electronic circuit unit capable of external connection
US9368906B2 (en) Electric terminal
JP5112981B2 (ja) ジョイントコネクタ、およびこのジョイントコネクタを用いた端子同士の接続方法
US8512069B2 (en) Flat plug electrical connector
US10290966B2 (en) Joint connector
CN102544852A (zh) 连接器
US20090250237A1 (en) Bus bar mounting assembly
US20190067851A1 (en) Connector and Connector Assembly
KR20140059798A (ko) 플러그 커넥터
CN112217017B (zh) 连接器
US9054508B2 (en) Electrical junction box
US20080293286A1 (en) Cable connector and circuit board connector to be connected to the same
KR102520419B1 (ko) 전기 접속 부품
US11031724B2 (en) Stacked connector and wire harness
US8231404B2 (en) Electronic connection box
JP5720518B2 (ja) ジョイントコネクタ
US10944222B2 (en) Electrical connector with two types of connector terminals and a spacer inserted into a housing
US20010039147A1 (en) Assembling structure of electronic unit to electrical connecting box

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OMORI, YASUO;HIRAI, HIROKI;TANAKA, TETSUJI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110404 TO 20110406;REEL/FRAME:026568/0211

Owner name: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OMORI, YASUO;HIRAI, HIROKI;TANAKA, TETSUJI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110404 TO 20110406;REEL/FRAME:026568/0211

Owner name: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OMORI, YASUO;HIRAI, HIROKI;TANAKA, TETSUJI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110404 TO 20110406;REEL/FRAME:026568/0211

AS Assignment

Owner name: SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST AND SECOND ASSIGNEE ADDRESS ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON 07/08/2011, REEL 026568, FRAME 0211;ASSIGNORS:OMORI, YASUO;HIRAI, HIROKI;TANAKA, TETSUJI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110404 TO 20110406;REEL/FRAME:026638/0974

Owner name: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST AND SECOND ASSIGNEE ADDRESS ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON 07/08/2011, REEL 026568, FRAME 0211;ASSIGNORS:OMORI, YASUO;HIRAI, HIROKI;TANAKA, TETSUJI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110404 TO 20110406;REEL/FRAME:026638/0974

Owner name: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE FIRST AND SECOND ASSIGNEE ADDRESS ON AN ASSIGNMENT DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON 07/08/2011, REEL 026568, FRAME 0211;ASSIGNORS:OMORI, YASUO;HIRAI, HIROKI;TANAKA, TETSUJI;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110404 TO 20110406;REEL/FRAME:026638/0974

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 8

MAFP Maintenance fee payment

Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 12TH YEAR, LARGE ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M1553); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

Year of fee payment: 12